Ego Check with The Id DMhttp://theiddm.podbean.com
An interview podcast hosted by Dr. Michael Mallen, a licensed psychologist who enjoys in-depth conversations with guests about games (tabletop RPGs, videogames, boardgames) and psychology.Wed, 28 Feb 2018 13:03:36 +0000https://podbean.com/?v=3.2enCopyright 2016 . All rights reserved.Games & Hobbies1440Ego Check with The Id DM is an interview podcast series hosted by a licensed psychologist. The podcast delves into a variety of game types (e.g., tabletop roleplaying games, boardgames, videogames) from a psychological perspective. Ego Check with The Id DM is an interview podcast series hosted by a licensed psychologist, Michael Mallen, Ph.D. The podcast delves into a variety of game types (e.g., tabletop roleplaying games, boardgames, videogames) from a psychological perspective. Dr. Mallen has been interviewing members of the gaming community for articles on his blog, The Id DM, since 2011 and is now posting these interviews for others to enjoy.Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMDr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMtheiddm@gmail.comNoCleanhttp://deow9bq0xqvbj.cloudfront.net/image-logo/1415507/Ego_Check_with_The_Id_DM_Cover_Art_1400.pngEgo Check with The Id DMhttp://theiddm.podbean.com
144144Mike Shea on D&D Streaming & Return of the Lazy Dungeon Masterhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/mike-shea-on-dd-streaming-return-of-the-lazy-dungeon-master/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/mike-shea-on-dd-streaming-return-of-the-lazy-dungeon-master/#commentsTue, 20 Feb 2018 08:30:00 +0000theiddmDungeons & DragonsKickstarterStreamingMike SheaSly Flourishtheiddm.podbean.com/mike-shea-on-dd-streaming-return-of-the-lazy-dungeon-master-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1Mike Shea joins the show once again to talk about the changing dynamics of tabletop roleplaying games. He explores how technology like streaming has advanced the hobby and spread its growth. We discuss the possible differences between what makes an excellent game to watch through streaming, and what makes an excellent game to play in with friends. He details his reasoning for launching his latest Kickstarter for Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master, and explains the purpose of its content. He emphasizes the importance of game masters focusing on the player characters in the game, and how that is now his first step during preparation for any gaming session. He offers advice for how to maintain a consistent, weekly gaming session while managing a rotating cast of players at the table.
]]>Mike Shea joins the show once again to talk about the changing dynamics of tabletop roleplaying games. He explores how technology like streaming has advanced the hobby and spread its growth. We discuss the possible differences between what makes an excellent game to watch through streaming, and what makes an excellent game to play in with friends. He details his reasoning for launching his latest Kickstarter for Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master, and explains the purpose of its content. He emphasizes the importance of game masters focusing on the player characters in the game, and how that is now his first step during preparation for any gaming session. He offers advice for how to maintain a consistent, weekly gaming session while managing a rotating cast of players at the table.]]>Mike Shea joins the show once again to talk about the changing dynamics of tabletop roleplaying games. He explores how technology like streaming has advanced ...Mike Shea joins the show once again to talk about the changing dynamics of tabletop roleplaying games. He explores how technology like streaming has advanced the hobby and spread its growth. We discuss the possible differences between what makes an excellent game to watch through streaming, and what makes an excellent game to play in with friends. He details his reasoning for launching his latest Kickstarter for Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master, and explains the purpose of its content. He emphasizes the importance of game masters focusing on the player characters in the game, and how that is now his first step during preparation for any gaming session. He offers advice for how to maintain a consistent, weekly gaming session while managing a rotating cast of players at the table.]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo01:06:4520fullTom Eastman on Developing Battle Chef Brigadehttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/tom-eastman/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/tom-eastman/#commentsFri, 09 Feb 2018 09:00:00 +0000theiddmVoice ActingBattle Chef BrigadeTom EastmanGame DesignTrinket Studiostheiddm.podbean.com/tom-eastman-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1Tom Eastman, President of Trinket Studios, joins me to talk about their new release, Battle Chef Brigade, which is now available on Steam and Nintendo Switch. Tom talks about the four-year development process for Battle Chef Brigade, and the challenges his team faced as an small independent company. He discusses the perils of marketing the game while fighting obscurity, and how Trinket Studios partnered with Adult Swim Games. Tom details how Battle Chef Brigade went through a rollercoaster in terms of scope and gameplay variations, and how they arrived at the current combination of mechanics and features. He answers my numerous questions about the design of the game, including how players are rewarded - rather than punished - for playing the game. We also get into the logistics of art design and voice acting. Tom concludes by talking about the mental toll of working on such a project and releasing it into the wild. If you have played Battle Chef Brigade or are simply interested in [...]]]>Tom Eastman, President of Trinket Studios, joins me to talk about their new release, Battle Chef Brigade, which is now available on Steam and Nintendo Switch. Tom talks about the four-year development process for Battle Chef Brigade, and the challenges his team faced as an small independent company. He discusses the perils of marketing the game while fighting obscurity, and how Trinket Studios partnered with Adult Swim Games. Tom details how Battle Chef Brigade went through a rollercoaster in terms of scope and gameplay variations, and how they arrived at the current combination of mechanics and features. He answers my numerous questions about the design of the game, including how players are rewarded - rather than punished - for playing the game. We also get into the logistics of art design and voice acting. Tom concludes by talking about the mental toll of working on such a project and releasing it into the wild. If you have played Battle Chef Brigade or are simply interested in how games are developed, then this podcast is a must listen! And if you have yet to experience Battle Chef Brigade, go buy the game! It is an amazing experience that I am loving. ]]>Tom Eastman, President of Trinket Studios, joins me to talk about their new release, Battle Chef Brigade, which is now available on Steam and Nintendo ...Tom Eastman, President of Trinket Studios, joins me to talk about their new release, Battle Chef Brigade, which is now available on Steam and Nintendo Switch. Tom talks about the four-year development process for Battle Chef Brigade, and the challenges his team faced as an small independent company. He discusses the perils of marketing the game while fighting obscurity, and how Trinket Studios partnered with Adult Swim Games. Tom details how Battle Chef Brigade went through a rollercoaster in terms of scope and gameplay variations, and how they arrived at the current combination of mechanics and features. He answers my numerous questions about the design of the game, including how players are rewarded - rather than punished - for playing the game. We also get into the logistics of art design and voice acting. Tom concludes by talking about the mental toll of working on such a project and releasing it into the wild. If you have played Battle Chef Brigade or are simply interested in how games are developed, then this podcast is a must listen! And if you have yet to experience Battle Chef Brigade, go buy the game! It is an amazing experience that I am loving. ]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo00:51:5419fullCedric Van Dorpehttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/cedric-van-dorpe/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/cedric-van-dorpe/#commentsTue, 23 Jan 2018 11:00:00 +0000theiddmHearthstoneCedric Van DorpeHearthstone Championship Tourtheiddm.podbean.com/cedric-van-dorpe-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1Cedric (@cedflanders) joins me from the Hearthstone Championship Tour in Amsterdam to offer a live report on the tournament. He details his experience at the event, and how he collected autographs from professional players and members of the Hearthstone team on his iPad throughout the weekend. We delve into competitive play and his thoughts on how tournaments could be improved to allow a wider variety of player skill to shine. We discuss his expertise in Arena as he speaks about his efforts to appear in the list of top Arean players in the world for the month. He offers advice on how to string together successful Arena runs from understanding the current meta, drafting cards, and playing aggressively.
]]>Cedric (@cedflanders) joins me from the Hearthstone Championship Tour in Amsterdam to offer a live report on the tournament. He details his experience at the event, and how he collected autographs from professional players and members of the Hearthstone team on his iPad throughout the weekend. We delve into competitive play and his thoughts on how tournaments could be improved to allow a wider variety of player skill to shine. We discuss his expertise in Arena as he speaks about his efforts to appear in the list of top Arean players in the world for the month. He offers advice on how to string together successful Arena runs from understanding the current meta, drafting cards, and playing aggressively. ]]>Cedric (@cedflanders) joins me from the Hearthstone Championship Tour in Amsterdam to offer a live report on the tournament. He details his experience at the ...Cedric (@cedflanders) joins me from the Hearthstone Championship Tour in Amsterdam to offer a live report on the tournament. He details his experience at the event, and how he collected autographs from professional players and members of the Hearthstone team on his iPad throughout the weekend. We delve into competitive play and his thoughts on how tournaments could be improved to allow a wider variety of player skill to shine. We discuss his expertise in Arena as he speaks about his efforts to appear in the list of top Arean players in the world for the month. He offers advice on how to string together successful Arena runs from understanding the current meta, drafting cards, and playing aggressively. ]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo01:05:4518fullDeven Ruehttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/deven-rue/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/deven-rue/#commentsTue, 19 Dec 2017 15:54:23 +0000theiddmDungeons & Dragons RPGStreamingArtDeven RueCartographytheiddm.podbean.com/deven-rue-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1Deven joins me to discuss her art, approach to cartography, and her interactions with the roleplaying game community. She talks about being introduced to Dungeons & Dragons at the age of 14 and the importance of finding a hobby and community that felt comfortable. She details her visual impairment, and how that has influenced her personal and professional life. She discusses how she transitioned from painting to woodburning to illustration in recent years, and how she drew the attention of the larger roleplaying game community. Deven talks about the initial pressures of interacting with fans, and how that has subsided over time. She closes by talking about her efforts to monetize her talents including how recent proposed changes to Patreon caused her to adjust her process. Enjoy the last episode of 2017!
]]>Deven joins me to discuss her art, approach to cartography, and her interactions with the roleplaying game community. She talks about being introduced to Dungeons & Dragons at the age of 14 and the importance of finding a hobby and community that felt comfortable. She details her visual impairment, and how that has influenced her personal and professional life. She discusses how she transitioned from painting to woodburning to illustration in recent years, and how she drew the attention of the larger roleplaying game community. Deven talks about the initial pressures of interacting with fans, and how that has subsided over time. She closes by talking about her efforts to monetize her talents including how recent proposed changes to Patreon caused her to adjust her process. Enjoy the last episode of 2017! ]]>Deven joins me to discuss her art, approach to cartography, and her interactions with the roleplaying game community. She talks about being introduced to Dungeons ...Deven joins me to discuss her art, approach to cartography, and her interactions with the roleplaying game community. She talks about being introduced to Dungeons & Dragons at the age of 14 and the importance of finding a hobby and community that felt comfortable. She details her visual impairment, and how that has influenced her personal and professional life. She discusses how she transitioned from painting to woodburning to illustration in recent years, and how she drew the attention of the larger roleplaying game community. Deven talks about the initial pressures of interacting with fans, and how that has subsided over time. She closes by talking about her efforts to monetize her talents including how recent proposed changes to Patreon caused her to adjust her process. Enjoy the last episode of 2017! ]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo00:55:0917fullGreg Titohttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/greg-tito/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/greg-tito/#commentsTue, 05 Dec 2017 13:47:29 +0000theiddmDungeons & Dragons RPGDiversitySocial MediaStreamingWizards of the CoastGreg Titotheiddm.podbean.com/greg-tito-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1Greg joins me this week to discuss his career path before joining Wizards of the Coast in 2015, and details his roles and responsibilities as Senior Communications Manager for Dungeons & Dragons. He talks about his love of tabletop roleplaying games, and provides a compelling answer to the question, “What is D&D?” Greg discusses how D&D is built by a lean staff of approximately 25 individuals, and how many of those individuals have long tenures on the product and with each other. He speaks about the growth of streaming and video delivery services, which has allowed the tabletop hobby to expand into newer audiences in recent years. He briefly reviews some internal data that shows the average fan of D&D is skewing younger and more diverse, and he explores how Wizards of the Coast can continue to increase outreach and representation to broaden the fanbase.
]]>Greg joins me this week to discuss his career path before joining Wizards of the Coast in 2015, and details his roles and responsibilities as Senior Communications Manager for Dungeons & Dragons. He talks about his love of tabletop roleplaying games, and provides a compelling answer to the question, "What is D&D?" Greg discusses how D&D is built by a lean staff of approximately 25 individuals, and how many of those individuals have long tenures on the product and with each other. He speaks about the growth of streaming and video delivery services, which has allowed the tabletop hobby to expand into newer audiences in recent years. He briefly reviews some internal data that shows the average fan of D&D is skewing younger and more diverse, and he explores how Wizards of the Coast can continue to increase outreach and representation to broaden the fanbase. ]]>Greg joins me this week to discuss his career path before joining Wizards of the Coast in 2015, and details his roles and responsibilities as ...Greg joins me this week to discuss his career path before joining Wizards of the Coast in 2015, and details his roles and responsibilities as Senior Communications Manager for Dungeons & Dragons. He talks about his love of tabletop roleplaying games, and provides a compelling answer to the question, "What is D&D?" Greg discusses how D&D is built by a lean staff of approximately 25 individuals, and how many of those individuals have long tenures on the product and with each other. He speaks about the growth of streaming and video delivery services, which has allowed the tabletop hobby to expand into newer audiences in recent years. He briefly reviews some internal data that shows the average fan of D&D is skewing younger and more diverse, and he explores how Wizards of the Coast can continue to increase outreach and representation to broaden the fanbase. ]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo00:58:3816fullMegan Connell, Psy.D.http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-10-dr-megan-connell/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-10-dr-megan-connell/#commentsTue, 21 Nov 2017 13:11:03 +0000theiddmDungeons & Dragons RPGSocial SkillsPsychologyStreamingClinical RollMegan Connell Psy.D.theiddm.podbean.com/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-10-dr-megan-connell-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1I’m joined this week by Dr. Megan Connell, a licensed psychologist who is currently using Dungeons & Dragons in two therapy groups to teach children social skills and empowerment. She speaks about motivations for pursuing a career in psychology, including her decision to join the military after the events of 9/11. Dr. Connell provides her insights into how dungeon mastering is essentially “people management,” and how DMs can use specific skills to improve gameplay for all involved. She covers how important it is to talk with your players to establish ground rules and resolve potential conflicts. She details her use of a Session 0 for all new campaigns to accomplish these goals. We review how mental health symptoms can manifest for players at the table, and present some strategies on how to address these situations. She talks about her Psychology and D&D video series featured on YouTube and her stream, Clinical Roll, [...]]]>I'm joined this week by Dr. Megan Connell, a licensed psychologist who is currently using Dungeons & Dragons in two therapy groups to teach children social skills and empowerment. She speaks about motivations for pursuing a career in psychology, including her decision to join the military after the events of 9/11. Dr. Connell provides her insights into how dungeon mastering is essentially "people management," and how DMs can use specific skills to improve gameplay for all involved. She covers how important it is to talk with your players to establish ground rules and resolve potential conflicts. She details her use of a Session 0 for all new campaigns to accomplish these goals. We review how mental health symptoms can manifest for players at the table, and present some strategies on how to address these situations. She talks about her Psychology and D&D video series featured on YouTube and her stream, Clinical Roll, which features numerous mental health professionals playing Dungeons & Dragons. ]]>I'm joined this week by Dr. Megan Connell, a licensed psychologist who is currently using Dungeons Dragons in two therapy groups to teach children ...I'm joined this week by Dr. Megan Connell, a licensed psychologist who is currently using Dungeons & Dragons in two therapy groups to teach children social skills and empowerment. She speaks about motivations for pursuing a career in psychology, including her decision to join the military after the events of 9/11. Dr. Connell provides her insights into how dungeon mastering is essentially "people management," and how DMs can use specific skills to improve gameplay for all involved. She covers how important it is to talk with your players to establish ground rules and resolve potential conflicts. She details her use of a Session 0 for all new campaigns to accomplish these goals. We review how mental health symptoms can manifest for players at the table, and present some strategies on how to address these situations. She talks about her Psychology and D&D video series featured on YouTube and her stream, Clinical Roll, which features numerous mental health professionals playing Dungeons & Dragons. ]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo00:52:4415fullJerry LeNeavehttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/jerry-leneave/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/jerry-leneave/#commentsTue, 07 Nov 2017 14:03:52 +0000theiddmDungeons & Dragons RPGSocial MediaJerry LeNeaveThe Dread GazeboShadow of the Demon LordStreamingtheiddm.podbean.com/jerry-leneave-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1Jerry, known as The Dread Gazebo, talks about his views on the changing climate around tabletop and vidoegaming this decade. He speaks the lifespan of gaming blogs and the rise of streaming. He details his enjoyment of Shadow of the Demon Lord, and answers questions regarding gameplay. Jerry presents his thoughts on streaming culture, and how it often turns into a toxic environment. We explore the social contract of playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, and long for briefer gameplay experiences. We close the show by discussing the unique aspects of forming close bonds with others online because of gaming, and how those bonds can shift when we actually meet each other in person.
]]>Jerry, known as The Dread Gazebo, talks about his views on the changing climate around tabletop and vidoegaming this decade. He speaks the lifespan of gaming blogs and the rise of streaming. He details his enjoyment of Shadow of the Demon Lord, and answers questions regarding gameplay. Jerry presents his thoughts on streaming culture, and how it often turns into a toxic environment. We explore the social contract of playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, and long for briefer gameplay experiences. We close the show by discussing the unique aspects of forming close bonds with others online because of gaming, and how those bonds can shift when we actually meet each other in person.]]>Jerry, known as The Dread Gazebo, talks about his views on the changing climate around tabletop and vidoegaming this decade. He speaks the lifespan of ...Jerry, known as The Dread Gazebo, talks about his views on the changing climate around tabletop and vidoegaming this decade. He speaks the lifespan of gaming blogs and the rise of streaming. He details his enjoyment of Shadow of the Demon Lord, and answers questions regarding gameplay. Jerry presents his thoughts on streaming culture, and how it often turns into a toxic environment. We explore the social contract of playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, and long for briefer gameplay experiences. We close the show by discussing the unique aspects of forming close bonds with others online because of gaming, and how those bonds can shift when we actually meet each other in person.]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo00:57:2614fullDuane Sibillyhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/duane-sibilly/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/duane-sibilly/#commentsTue, 17 Oct 2017 12:16:01 +0000theiddm RPGDiversityDuane SibillyHammer Gamingtheiddm.podbean.com/duane-sibilly-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1Duane has been cultivating Hammer Gaming, a community for like-minded players who wish to avoid the toxicity that is often found in online games. He speaks about consulting with other gamemasters like myself, and we talk through an example of how we collaborated to flesh out various characters in my Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Duane delves into his experiences as a person of color playing video- and tabletop games, and the obstacles he has encountered over the years while trying to engage with the hobby. He offers advice for other players and content creators to make gaming a safer space for a wider audience. He details how Hammer Gaming came to be created, and how it has evolved from a World of Warcraft guild to a vibrant community of 40-50 friendly gamers. We close the show by talking about Destiny 2, and he tries to convince me to dive in when it releases for PC.
]]>Duane has been cultivating Hammer Gaming, a community for like-minded players who wish to avoid the toxicity that is often found in online games. He speaks about consulting with other gamemasters like myself, and we talk through an example of how we collaborated to flesh out various characters in my Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Duane delves into his experiences as a person of color playing video- and tabletop games, and the obstacles he has encountered over the years while trying to engage with the hobby. He offers advice for other players and content creators to make gaming a safer space for a wider audience. He details how Hammer Gaming came to be created, and how it has evolved from a World of Warcraft guild to a vibrant community of 40-50 friendly gamers. We close the show by talking about Destiny 2, and he tries to convince me to dive in when it releases for PC.]]>Duane has been cultivating Hammer Gaming, a community for like-minded players who wish to avoid the toxicity that is often found in online games. He speaks ...Duane has been cultivating Hammer Gaming, a community for like-minded players who wish to avoid the toxicity that is often found in online games. He speaks about consulting with other gamemasters like myself, and we talk through an example of how we collaborated to flesh out various characters in my Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Duane delves into his experiences as a person of color playing video- and tabletop games, and the obstacles he has encountered over the years while trying to engage with the hobby. He offers advice for other players and content creators to make gaming a safer space for a wider audience. He details how Hammer Gaming came to be created, and how it has evolved from a World of Warcraft guild to a vibrant community of 40-50 friendly gamers. We close the show by talking about Destiny 2, and he tries to convince me to dive in when it releases for PC.]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo00:58:5913fullEnrique Bertranhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/enrique-bertran/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/enrique-bertran/#commentsTue, 03 Oct 2017 12:04:38 +0000theiddmDungeons & Dragons RPGNewbieDMEnrique BertranTomb of Annihilationtheiddm.podbean.com/enrique-bertran-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1Listen to Enrique Bertran, better known as NewbieDM, discuss the evolving Dungeons & Dragons landscape during the past 10 years. He shares his insights about how roleplaying games continue to get closer to “mainstream” status, and how 5th Edition D&D is a good system. We spend time reviewing D&D’s latest adventure, Tomb of Annihilation, which Enrique says “is 5th Edition running on all cylinders” and “the best adventure Wizards of the Coast has put out… since at least 2008.” He delves into the specifics of the adventure - without too many spoilers - and offers Dungeon Masters advice on how to run the game a bit differently than published to enhance the experience of the players. He speaks about the benefits for [...]]]>Listen to Enrique Bertran, better known as NewbieDM, discuss the evolving Dungeons & Dragons landscape during the past 10 years. He shares his insights about how roleplaying games continue to get closer to "mainstream" status, and how 5th Edition D&D is a good system. We spend time reviewing D&D's latest adventure, Tomb of Annihilation, which Enrique says "is 5th Edition running on all cylinders" and "the best adventure Wizards of the Coast has put out... since at least 2008." He delves into the specifics of the adventure - without too many spoilers - and offers Dungeon Masters advice on how to run the game a bit differently than published to enhance the experience of the players. He speaks about the benefits for using online tools such as D&D Beyond and Roll20 to run his gaming sessions, and talks about his desire for official adventure content from Wizards to be briefer. He concludes with thoughts on a possible future project geared toward a roleplaying game for children. ]]>Listen to Enrique Bertran, better known as NewbieDM, discuss the evolving Dungeons Dragons landscape during the past 10 years. He shares his insights about ...Listen to Enrique Bertran, better known as NewbieDM, discuss the evolving Dungeons & Dragons landscape during the past 10 years. He shares his insights about how roleplaying games continue to get closer to "mainstream" status, and how 5th Edition D&D is a good system. We spend time reviewing D&D's latest adventure, Tomb of Annihilation, which Enrique says "is 5th Edition running on all cylinders" and "the best adventure Wizards of the Coast has put out... since at least 2008." He delves into the specifics of the adventure - without too many spoilers - and offers Dungeon Masters advice on how to run the game a bit differently than published to enhance the experience of the players. He speaks about the benefits for using online tools such as D&D Beyond and Roll20 to run his gaming sessions, and talks about his desire for official adventure content from Wizards to be briefer. He concludes with thoughts on a possible future project geared toward a roleplaying game for children. ]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo01:05:0612fullJeff Chinhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-18-jeff-chin/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-18-jeff-chin/#commentsTue, 19 Sep 2017 12:05:43 +0000theiddmJeff ChinBowtiesKickstarterRoad to Infamytheiddm.podbean.com/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-18-jeff-chin-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1I’m joined by Jeff Chin, Co-Founder of Road to Infamy Games, and he speaks about lessons learned from successfully launching two prior games through Kickstarter. He details Road to Infamy’s latest Kickstarter campaign, Bowties: The Dapper Drinking Game. Jeff talks about his inspiration for the game and the development process for taking the game from initial conception to playtesting and hopefully manufacturing. We discuss social behavior as it relates to consuming alcohol in public spaces - and playtesting games. He answers questions about the possible competition with other Kickstarter campaigns, and how he has embraced collaboration with other creators.
]]>I'm joined by Jeff Chin, Co-Founder of Road to Infamy Games, and he speaks about lessons learned from successfully launching two prior games through Kickstarter. He details Road to Infamy's latest Kickstarter campaign, Bowties: The Dapper Drinking Game. Jeff talks about his inspiration for the game and the development process for taking the game from initial conception to playtesting and hopefully manufacturing. We discuss social behavior as it relates to consuming alcohol in public spaces - and playtesting games. He answers questions about the possible competition with other Kickstarter campaigns, and how he has embraced collaboration with other creators.]]>I'm joined by Jeff Chin, Co-Founder of Road to Infamy Games, and he speaks about lessons learned from successfully launching two prior games through Kickstarter. ...I'm joined by Jeff Chin, Co-Founder of Road to Infamy Games, and he speaks about lessons learned from successfully launching two prior games through Kickstarter. He details Road to Infamy's latest Kickstarter campaign, Bowties: The Dapper Drinking Game. Jeff talks about his inspiration for the game and the development process for taking the game from initial conception to playtesting and hopefully manufacturing. We discuss social behavior as it relates to consuming alcohol in public spaces - and playtesting games. He answers questions about the possible competition with other Kickstarter campaigns, and how he has embraced collaboration with other creators.]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo00:37:1811fullOhad Zachhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-17-ohad-zach/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-17-ohad-zach/#commentsTue, 20 Jun 2017 12:15:08 +0000theiddmHearthstoneVicious SyndicateOhad Zachhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-17-ohad-zach/I’m joined by Ohad Zach (ZachO), General Manager of Vicious Syndicate and writer of the weekly Data Reaper Report, which provides comprehensive statistical analysis for Hearthstone. He spoke about his fandom of Blizzard games and joining forces with Vicious Syndicate to create a new type of meta report for Hearthstone. He discusses the initial concept for the Data Reaper Report, and how the report has improved since it launched in May 2016. He speaks to how the accurate data analysis in the reports have altered the Hearthstone landscape - from how tournament matches are called by casters to how the meta adapts and settles after a new expansion release. At various times throughout the interview, Ohad responds to my anecdotal perceptions of current Hearthstone gameplay with analysis based on tens of thousands of game results. For example, he details how the current Hearthstone meta is perh [...]]]>I'm joined by Ohad Zach (ZachO), General Manager of Vicious Syndicate and writer of the weekly Data Reaper Report, which provides comprehensive statistical analysis for Hearthstone. He spoke about his fandom of Blizzard games and joining forces with Vicious Syndicate to create a new type of meta report for Hearthstone. He discusses the initial concept for the Data Reaper Report, and how the report has improved since it launched in May 2016. He speaks to how the accurate data analysis in the reports have altered the Hearthstone landscape - from how tournament matches are called by casters to how the meta adapts and settles after a new expansion release. At various times throughout the interview, Ohad responds to my anecdotal perceptions of current Hearthstone gameplay with analysis based on tens of thousands of game results. For example, he details how the current Hearthstone meta is perhaps the healthiest it has ever been, why the Warlock class is in such a bad state at the moment, why Pirate Warrior in Wild is not as strong as people may think, and how Crystal Rogue shapes the Standard experience. He talks about the latest addition to Vicious Syndicate, the Wild Data Reaper Report, which provides a similar type of statistical analysis to the Wild format. And we explore the casual and competitive allure of Hearthstone in addition to how Vicious Syndicate overlaps at times with Blizzard staff, streamers, professional players, and a thriving online community.]]>I'm joined by Ohad Zach (ZachO), General Manager of Vicious Syndicate and writer of the weekly Data Reaper Report, which provides comprehensive statistical analysis for ...I'm joined by Ohad Zach (ZachO), General Manager of Vicious Syndicate and writer of the weekly Data Reaper Report, which provides comprehensive statistical analysis for Hearthstone. He spoke about his fandom of Blizzard games and joining forces with Vicious Syndicate to create a new type of meta report for Hearthstone. He discusses the initial concept for the Data Reaper Report, and how the report has improved since it launched in May 2016. He speaks to how the accurate data analysis in the reports have altered the Hearthstone landscape - from how tournament matches are called by casters to how the meta adapts and settles after a new expansion release. At various times throughout the interview, Ohad responds to my anecdotal perceptions of current Hearthstone gameplay with analysis based on tens of thousands of game results. For example, he details how the current Hearthstone meta is perhaps the healthiest it has ever been, why the Warlock class is in such a bad state at the moment, why Pirate Warrior in Wild is not as strong as people may think, and how Crystal Rogue shapes the Standard experience. He talks about the latest addition to Vicious Syndicate, the Wild Data Reaper Report, which provides a similar type of statistical analysis to the Wild format. And we explore the casual and competitive allure of Hearthstone in addition to how Vicious Syndicate overlaps at times with Blizzard staff, streamers, professional players, and a thriving online community.]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo01:02:231fullKatrina Ostranderhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-16-katrina-ostrander/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-16-katrina-ostrander/#commentsTue, 06 Jun 2017 10:55:17 +0000theiddmDungeons & Dragons RPGDiversityWritingHomebrewingFantasy Flight GamesStar WarsEdge of the EmpireAnxietyhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-16-katrina-ostrander/I’m joined this week by Katrina Ostrander, Fiction Editor for Fantasy Flight Games Fiction and Story Team Member for Fantasy Flight Games. She talks about her early experiences in gaming, which were mostly comprised of play-by-post games. She speaks about the benefits of her play-by-post games, and how she started to play in tabletop sessions. Katrina describes her experiences playing in gaming groups comprised of all-men and all-women, and how those groups tend to approach RPGs in different ways. She discusses her method for running quality games that engage player emotions, and offers ]]>I'm joined this week by Katrina Ostrander, Fiction Editor for Fantasy Flight Games Fiction and Story Team Member for Fantasy Flight Games. She talks about her early experiences in gaming, which were mostly comprised of play-by-post games. She speaks about the benefits of her play-by-post games, and how she started to play in tabletop sessions. Katrina describes her experiences playing in gaming groups comprised of all-men and all-women, and how those groups tend to approach RPGs in different ways. She discusses her method for running quality games that engage player emotions, and offers advice for how to deal with the anxiety that comes with the duties of gamemastering. She details her roles over the years with Fantasy Flight Games, including her work on highly-scrutinized intellectual properties such as Star Wars and Legend of the Five Rings. She closes the interview by discussing potential future projects, including designing a game that would connect with the younger version of herself. ]]>I'm joined this week by Katrina Ostrander, Fiction Editor for Fantasy Flight Games Fiction and Story Team Member for Fantasy Flight Games. She talks about ...I'm joined this week by Katrina Ostrander, Fiction Editor for Fantasy Flight Games Fiction and Story Team Member for Fantasy Flight Games. She talks about her early experiences in gaming, which were mostly comprised of play-by-post games. She speaks about the benefits of her play-by-post games, and how she started to play in tabletop sessions. Katrina describes her experiences playing in gaming groups comprised of all-men and all-women, and how those groups tend to approach RPGs in different ways. She discusses her method for running quality games that engage player emotions, and offers advice for how to deal with the anxiety that comes with the duties of gamemastering. She details her roles over the years with Fantasy Flight Games, including her work on highly-scrutinized intellectual properties such as Star Wars and Legend of the Five Rings. She closes the interview by discussing potential future projects, including designing a game that would connect with the younger version of herself. ]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo00:55:071fullWayne Junehttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-15-wayne-june/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-15-wayne-june/#commentsTue, 16 May 2017 11:16:10 +0000theiddmDarkest DungeonWayne JuneVoice ActingAudiobookhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-15-wayne-june/This week I am joined by Wayne June, voiceover artist and narrator with extensive experience in the audiobook industry. He is perhaps best known recently for his work as the voice of the Darkest Dungeon; he performs the lines of The Ancestor, who serves as the narrator throughout the game. Wayne first discusses his years as a musician and touring with the guitar icon, Johnny Winter. He pivots to detail how he became interested in the voice recording business, and how he found a niche in “creepy” literature such as volumes of H.P. Lovecraft works. Wayne talks about the shift from collaborating in a band to the isolation of voice work, and how the request from the Darkest Dungeon team thrust him into the gaming community. He shares the process for finding the voice of The Ancestor, and what it’s been like to gain attention for his work in the game. He closes by talking about current audiobook and gaming projects.
]]>This week I am joined by Wayne June, voiceover artist and narrator with extensive experience in the audiobook industry. He is perhaps best known recently for his work as the voice of the Darkest Dungeon; he performs the lines of The Ancestor, who serves as the narrator throughout the game. Wayne first discusses his years as a musician and touring with the guitar icon, Johnny Winter. He pivots to detail how he became interested in the voice recording business, and how he found a niche in "creepy" literature such as volumes of H.P. Lovecraft works. Wayne talks about the shift from collaborating in a band to the isolation of voice work, and how the request from the Darkest Dungeon team thrust him into the gaming community. He shares the process for finding the voice of The Ancestor, and what it's been like to gain attention for his work in the game. He closes by talking about current audiobook and gaming projects. ]]>This week I am joined by Wayne June, voiceover artist and narrator with extensive experience in the audiobook industry. He is perhaps best known recently ...This week I am joined by Wayne June, voiceover artist and narrator with extensive experience in the audiobook industry. He is perhaps best known recently for his work as the voice of the Darkest Dungeon; he performs the lines of The Ancestor, who serves as the narrator throughout the game. Wayne first discusses his years as a musician and touring with the guitar icon, Johnny Winter. He pivots to detail how he became interested in the voice recording business, and how he found a niche in "creepy" literature such as volumes of H.P. Lovecraft works. Wayne talks about the shift from collaborating in a band to the isolation of voice work, and how the request from the Darkest Dungeon team thrust him into the gaming community. He shares the process for finding the voice of The Ancestor, and what it's been like to gain attention for his work in the game. He closes by talking about current audiobook and gaming projects. ]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo01:03:191fullChris Benefieldhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-14-chris-benefield/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-14-chris-benefield/#commentsTue, 02 May 2017 12:17:06 +0000theiddmDungeons & Dragons RPGMindfulnessHearthstonePsychologyFree-To-PlayPay-To-WinChris BenefieldSocial Mediahttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-14-chris-benefield/This week I’m joined by Chris Benefield, a longtime friend I first met during our days in graduate school way back in 1998. Chris has a masters degree in Educational Psychology, and is now working toward an advanced degree to become a school counselor. In the episode, we discuss our history of arguing, “Who is the bigger nerd?” and explore how social comparison theory affects geekdom, “Sure, I’m a nerd - but I’m not THAT nerdy.” I ask Chris why he cannot get into tabletop roleplaying games such as Dungeons & Dragons, and he asks me why I’m unwilling to dive into Magic: The Gathering (MtG). He discusses the merits of MtG, and we explore how games like Hearthstone, SolForge, and Eternal scratch a similar itch. We delve into our approaches to mindfully engage in hobbies and time management, which leads into our use of social media - for better and sometimes worse. Along the way, we review our trip to GenCon 2012, and talk about try [...]]]>This week I'm joined by Chris Benefield, a longtime friend I first met during our days in graduate school way back in 1998. Chris has a masters degree in Educational Psychology, and is now working toward an advanced degree to become a school counselor. In the episode, we discuss our history of arguing, "Who is the bigger nerd?" and explore how social comparison theory affects geekdom, "Sure, I'm a nerd - but I'm not THAT nerdy." I ask Chris why he cannot get into tabletop roleplaying games such as Dungeons & Dragons, and he asks me why I'm unwilling to dive into Magic: The Gathering (MtG). He discusses the merits of MtG, and we explore how games like Hearthstone, SolForge, and Eternal scratch a similar itch. We delve into our approaches to mindfully engage in hobbies and time management, which leads into our use of social media - for better and sometimes worse. Along the way, we review our trip to GenCon 2012, and talk about trying to remain a nerd while parenting young children.

Enjoy the episode, and please provide feedback if you would like Chris and I to continue recording similar discussions as we are considering spinning this off into a separate podcast.

]]>This week I'm joined by Chris Benefield, a longtime friend I first met during our days in graduate school way back in 1998. Chris has ...This week I'm joined by Chris Benefield, a longtime friend I first met during our days in graduate school way back in 1998. Chris has a masters degree in Educational Psychology, and is now working toward an advanced degree to become a school counselor. In the episode, we discuss our history of arguing, "Who is the bigger nerd?" and explore how social comparison theory affects geekdom, "Sure, I'm a nerd - but I'm not THAT nerdy." I ask Chris why he cannot get into tabletop roleplaying games such as Dungeons & Dragons, and he asks me why I'm unwilling to dive into Magic: The Gathering (MtG). He discusses the merits of MtG, and we explore how games like Hearthstone, SolForge, and Eternal scratch a similar itch. We delve into our approaches to mindfully engage in hobbies and time management, which leads into our use of social media - for better and sometimes worse. Along the way, we review our trip to GenCon 2012, and talk about trying to remain a nerd while parenting young children.

Enjoy the episode, and please provide feedback if you would like Chris and I to continue recording similar discussions as we are considering spinning this off into a separate podcast.

]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo00:57:441fullCarina Komhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-13-carina-kom/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-13-carina-kom/#commentsTue, 18 Apr 2017 12:17:41 +0000theiddmDarkest DungeonCarina KomIron TidesCrash Wave GamesFree-To-PlayPay-To-Winhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-13-carina-kom/I’m joined by Carina Kom, Co-founder and CEO of Crash Wave Games, which successfully launched a Kickstarter campaign for their next game, Iron Tides. Ms. Kom discusses her years of experience wearing various hats in the gaming industry, which led her to forming her own company. She talks about her interest in understanding player behaviors in videogames, including how players respond to in-game reward systems and overall difficulty settings. She elaborates on her experience working on free-to-play and pay-to-win games. The second half of the interview is devoted to Iron Tides, which is a Viking themed strategy-survival game that is inspired by games such as Darkest Dungeon. She speaks about the benefits and challenges of playtesting with the diverse casual and “hardcore” gaming audiences. She described the systems in Iron Tides, and how some of them grew from a [...]]]>I'm joined by Carina Kom, Co-founder and CEO of Crash Wave Games, which successfully launched a Kickstarter campaign for their next game, Iron Tides. Ms. Kom discusses her years of experience wearing various hats in the gaming industry, which led her to forming her own company. She talks about her interest in understanding player behaviors in videogames, including how players respond to in-game reward systems and overall difficulty settings. She elaborates on her experience working on free-to-play and pay-to-win games. The second half of the interview is devoted to Iron Tides, which is a Viking themed strategy-survival game that is inspired by games such as Darkest Dungeon. She speaks about the benefits and challenges of playtesting with the diverse casual and "hardcore" gaming audiences. She described the systems in Iron Tides, and how some of them grew from a tabletop philosophy. ]]>I'm joined by Carina Kom, Co-founder and CEO of Crash Wave Games, which successfully launched a Kickstarter campaign for their next game, Iron Tides. Ms. Kom ...I'm joined by Carina Kom, Co-founder and CEO of Crash Wave Games, which successfully launched a Kickstarter campaign for their next game, Iron Tides. Ms. Kom discusses her years of experience wearing various hats in the gaming industry, which led her to forming her own company. She talks about her interest in understanding player behaviors in videogames, including how players respond to in-game reward systems and overall difficulty settings. She elaborates on her experience working on free-to-play and pay-to-win games. The second half of the interview is devoted to Iron Tides, which is a Viking themed strategy-survival game that is inspired by games such as Darkest Dungeon. She speaks about the benefits and challenges of playtesting with the diverse casual and "hardcore" gaming audiences. She described the systems in Iron Tides, and how some of them grew from a tabletop philosophy. ]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo00:56:531fullBrian Pattersonhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-12-brian-patterson/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-12-brian-patterson/#commentsTue, 04 Apr 2017 11:53:30 +0000theiddm RPGPsychologyBrian Pattersond20monkeyKarthunhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-12-brian-patterson/I’m joined by Brian Patterson, Co-Owner of Exploding Rogue Studios, and Creator of the webcomic, d20monkey. He completed a successful Kickstarter to fund his efforts to create Karthun, a campaign guide. I previously interviewed Brian in 2011 and 2014 for my blog, and he talks about his work in the gaming industry in recent years, including his role as Art Tsar for Evil Hat P [...]]]>I'm joined by Brian Patterson, Co-Owner of Exploding Rogue Studios, and Creator of the webcomic, d20monkey. He completed a successful Kickstarter to fund his efforts to create Karthun, a campaign guide. I previously interviewed Brian in 2011 and 2014 for my blog, and he talks about his work in the gaming industry in recent years, including his role as Art Tsar for Evil Hat Productions. He spends the first portion of the interview talking about his experiences meeting with a therapist for assistance with mental health issues, which have been partially influenced by the lifestyle connected to freelance work. We discuss how therapy works, and dispel some common myths about the interactions that take place between a counselor and a client. Brian later discusses his struggles to produce Karthun, and the emotions related to completing the project. Near the end of the interview, he briefly covers upcoming projects for d20monkey and Exploding Rogue Studios, and educates listeners on how best to incorporate Karthun into any roleplaying game system.]]>I'm joined by Brian Patterson, Co-Owner of Exploding Rogue Studios, and Creator of the webcomic, d20monkey. He completed a successful Kickstarter to fund his efforts ...I'm joined by Brian Patterson, Co-Owner of Exploding Rogue Studios, and Creator of the webcomic, d20monkey. He completed a successful Kickstarter to fund his efforts to create Karthun, a campaign guide. I previously interviewed Brian in 2011 and 2014 for my blog, and he talks about his work in the gaming industry in recent years, including his role as Art Tsar for Evil Hat Productions. He spends the first portion of the interview talking about his experiences meeting with a therapist for assistance with mental health issues, which have been partially influenced by the lifestyle connected to freelance work. We discuss how therapy works, and dispel some common myths about the interactions that take place between a counselor and a client. Brian later discusses his struggles to produce Karthun, and the emotions related to completing the project. Near the end of the interview, he briefly covers upcoming projects for d20monkey and Exploding Rogue Studios, and educates listeners on how best to incorporate Karthun into any roleplaying game system.]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo01:10:551fullDr. Janina Scarlethttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-11-dr-janina-scarlet/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-11-dr-janina-scarlet/#commentsTue, 21 Mar 2017 12:25:48 +0000theiddmJanina ScarletSuperhero TherapyACTPsychologyhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-11-dr-janina-scarlet/I am joined this week by Dr. Janina Scarlet, and we talk about her upcoming book, Superhero Therapy - A Hero’s Journey Through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Scarlet shares her fascinating origin story and how her personal journey with negative emotions led her to pursue a career in psychology. She describes how she has used various elements of geek culture in her work as a therapist providing care to Veterans and other individuals struggling with shame, anxiety, fear, and anxiety. She educates people about the purpose of therapy, and elaborates on several skills listed in her book. Near the end of the conversation, she shares her personal experience as [...]]]>I am joined this week by Dr. Janina Scarlet, and we talk about her upcoming book, Superhero Therapy - A Hero's Journey Through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Scarlet shares her fascinating origin story and how her personal journey with negative emotions led her to pursue a career in psychology. She describes how she has used various elements of geek culture in her work as a therapist providing care to Veterans and other individuals struggling with shame, anxiety, fear, and anxiety. She educates people about the purpose of therapy, and elaborates on several skills listed in her book. Near the end of the conversation, she shares her personal experience as a refugee to the United States, and how recent political events have been challenging. We also talk a bit of hockey before closing down!

]]>I am joined this week by Dr. Janina Scarlet, and we talk about her upcoming book, Superhero Therapy - A Hero's Journey Through Acceptance and ...I am joined this week by Dr. Janina Scarlet, and we talk about her upcoming book, Superhero Therapy - A Hero's Journey Through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Scarlet shares her fascinating origin story and how her personal journey with negative emotions led her to pursue a career in psychology. She describes how she has used various elements of geek culture in her work as a therapist providing care to Veterans and other individuals struggling with shame, anxiety, fear, and anxiety. She educates people about the purpose of therapy, and elaborates on several skills listed in her book. Near the end of the conversation, she shares her personal experience as a refugee to the United States, and how recent political events have been challenging. We also talk a bit of hockey before closing down!

]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo00:56:121fullDr. Peter Whalen & Dr. Tzachi Zachhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-10-peter-whalen-dr-tzachi-zach/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-10-peter-whalen-dr-tzachi-zach/#commentsTue, 07 Mar 2017 12:15:30 +0000theiddmHearthstoneData AnalysisVicious SyndicatePeter WhalenTzachi Zachhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-10-peter-whalen-dr-tzachi-zach/This week’s MEGA Hearthstone episode celebrates the annoucement of the next expansion, Journey to Un’Goro. First, Dr. Peter Whalen, Senior Game Designer for Hearthstone, joins me to discuss his experiences working for Blizzard since 2015 and his role as Lead Designer for the Journey to Un’Goro expansion. He provides additional details about the Adapt and Quest mechanics, and discusses the realities of designing content for a passionate fanbase with access to data analytics to attack Ranked play. Around the 30-minute mark, Dr. Tzachi Zach joins me to talk about the his role as Co-Owner and Data Analyst for Vicious Syndicate. He explains how the weekly Data Reaper Reports are created, and comments on how players and the Hearthstone designers can benefit from the analytics provided by Vicious Syndicate.

If you are interested in coming on the show for an interview, or would like to become a spons [...]

]]>This week's MEGA Hearthstone episode celebrates the annoucement of the next expansion, Journey to Un'Goro. First, Dr. Peter Whalen, Senior Game Designer for Hearthstone, joins me to discuss his experiences working for Blizzard since 2015 and his role as Lead Designer for the Journey to Un'Goro expansion. He provides additional details about the Adapt and Quest mechanics, and discusses the realities of designing content for a passionate fanbase with access to data analytics to attack Ranked play. Around the 30-minute mark, Dr. Tzachi Zach joins me to talk about the his role as Co-Owner and Data Analyst for Vicious Syndicate. He explains how the weekly Data Reaper Reports are created, and comments on how players and the Hearthstone designers can benefit from the analytics provided by Vicious Syndicate.

]]>This week's MEGA Hearthstone episode celebrates the annoucement of the next expansion, Journey to Un'Goro. First, Dr. Peter Whalen, Senior Game Designer for Hearthstone, joins ...This week's MEGA Hearthstone episode celebrates the annoucement of the next expansion, Journey to Un'Goro. First, Dr. Peter Whalen, Senior Game Designer for Hearthstone, joins me to discuss his experiences working for Blizzard since 2015 and his role as Lead Designer for the Journey to Un'Goro expansion. He provides additional details about the Adapt and Quest mechanics, and discusses the realities of designing content for a passionate fanbase with access to data analytics to attack Ranked play. Around the 30-minute mark, Dr. Tzachi Zach joins me to talk about the his role as Co-Owner and Data Analyst for Vicious Syndicate. He explains how the weekly Data Reaper Reports are created, and comments on how players and the Hearthstone designers can benefit from the analytics provided by Vicious Syndicate.

]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo01:13:3510fullShanna Germainhttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-9-shanna-germain/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-9-shanna-germain/#commentsTue, 21 Feb 2017 13:23:25 +0000theiddm RPGDiversityWritingGriefShanna GermainMonte Cook Gameshttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-9-shanna-germain/My guest for Episode 9 of Ego Check with The Id DM is Shanna Germain, co-founder of Monte Cook Games, and an acclaimed writer and game designer. She covered many topics during our discussion, including her work as an activist and advocate in and out of the gaming industry. She speaks about her work with Monte Cook Games and how she balances the demands of writing novels and designing games. We spent an extended amount of time on the concept of grief in gaming, and this led into a discussion of politics and the recent statement by Monte Cook Games titled, Our Core Values. We conclude by talking about her roleplaying game for young children, No Thank You, Evil.
[...]]]>My guest for Episode 9 of Ego Check with The Id DM is Shanna Germain, co-founder of Monte Cook Games, and an acclaimed writer and game designer. She covered many topics during our discussion, including her work as an activist and advocate in and out of the gaming industry. She speaks about her work with Monte Cook Games and how she balances the demands of writing novels and designing games. We spent an extended amount of time on the concept of grief in gaming, and this led into a discussion of politics and the recent statement by Monte Cook Games titled, Our Core Values. We conclude by talking about her roleplaying game for young children, No Thank You, Evil.

]]>My guest for Episode 9 of Ego Check with The Id DM is Shanna Germain, co-founder of Monte Cook Games, and an acclaimed writer and game ...My guest for Episode 9 of Ego Check with The Id DM is Shanna Germain, co-founder of Monte Cook Games, and an acclaimed writer and game designer. She covered many topics during our discussion, including her work as an activist and advocate in and out of the gaming industry. She speaks about her work with Monte Cook Games and how she balances the demands of writing novels and designing games. We spent an extended amount of time on the concept of grief in gaming, and this led into a discussion of politics and the recent statement by Monte Cook Games titled, Our Core Values. We conclude by talking about her roleplaying game for young children, No Thank You, Evil.

]]>Dr. Michael Mallen, The Id DMCleanNo00:58:259fullAllison Rossihttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-8-allison-rossi/
http://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-8-allison-rossi/#commentsTue, 07 Feb 2017 12:31:54 +0000theiddmDungeons & Dragons RPGDiversityOverwatchAllison Rossihttp://theiddm.podbean.com/e/ego-check-with-the-id-dm-episode-8-allison-rossi/My guest for Episode 8 of Ego Check with The Id DM is Allison Rossi, Dungeon Master for Adventurer’s League and Social Media Manager for a Competitive Overwatch League. She discusses her entrance into tabletop roleplaying games several years ago and her experiences playing Dungeons & Dragons as a new player. She offers suggestions for helping new players feel comfortable playing D&D, and speaks about the trials of being a young woman running games for organized play. During the second half of the interview, she talks about her involvement in competitive Overwatch and provides useful strategies for find more success in that game. You can watch her play games on Twitch as well.

If you are interested in coming on the show for an interview, or would like to become a sponsor,

]]>My guest for Episode 8 of Ego Check with The Id DM is Allison Rossi, Dungeon Master for Adventurer's League and Social Media Manager for a Competitive Overwatch League. She discusses her entrance into tabletop roleplaying games several years ago and her experiences playing Dungeons & Dragons as a new player. She offers suggestions for helping new players feel comfortable playing D&D, and speaks about the trials of being a young woman running games for organized play. During the second half of the interview, she talks about her involvement in competitive Overwatch and provides useful strategies for find more success in that game. You can watch her play games on Twitch as well.

]]>My guest for Episode 8 of Ego Check with The Id DM is Allison Rossi, Dungeon Master for Adventurer's League and Social Media Manager for a Competitive ...My guest for Episode 8 of Ego Check with The Id DM is Allison Rossi, Dungeon Master for Adventurer's League and Social Media Manager for a Competitive Overwatch League. She discusses her entrance into tabletop roleplaying games several years ago and her experiences playing Dungeons & Dragons as a new player. She offers suggestions for helping new players feel comfortable playing D&D, and speaks about the trials of being a young woman running games for organized play. During the second half of the interview, she talks about her involvement in competitive Overwatch and provides useful strategies for find more success in that game. You can watch her play games on Twitch as well.